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Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Wednesday is my teaching day but I actually thought in advance and prepared this post for today! It isn't like me to be so organised and I am sure it won't last!

Here are some of my current works in progress. I have others but haven't made enough progress on them to warrant a photo.

The first pic is the front of a Christmas cushion cover. Some of the ladies in my current class has suggested that they may like to make a Christmas project next and I thought it would be a great chance to try out a quilt block such as a pinwheel. A great intro to half square triangles !

This will be a class sample when finished and is using Quilter's Linen and the remains of a Winter's Lane charm pack from Moda.

The second picture shows what I have started using the Green Tea and Sweet Beans pattern I bought last week. I am in love with this pattern and am taking forever choosing little pieces of fabric. I am enjoying the hand piecing. It is time consuming with templates etc but I like to have a little bit of quiet evening sewing so this is perfect for me.

The light block is the Wedding chain block and the two littlies are propeller blocks. Cute aren't they?

Thursday is about Bee blocks. I hope to get caught up and have photos to share on Friday!
What are you currently working on at the moment?
Collette x

Friday, 25 October 2013

This wall hanging is a tribute to all things hand pieced, hand quilted and embroidered. I used English Paper piecing to piece the dresden plate in bright Kona solids.

I then decided to fill the centre of the petals with a purple seed embroidery stitch. This was done during the summer in my garden! I then hand appliqued the dresden onto a crisp white cotton background.

This wall hanging just evolved as I went along and was asking for some perle cotton hand quilting next. I chose colours to blend with the petals and used a large Kantha style hand quilting stitch to add that wonderful textured look.

18.5 x 18.5 inches

The background again asked for hand quilting so I obliged by adding straight(ish!) lined Kantha style quilting which took a while but was so worth it. Anyone that knows me knows how much I love hand quilting and english paper piecing and how very relaxing I find it.

I bound with a delicate green floral print binding which echoes the dresden !

So there you have it! My tribute in wall hanging form to all the types of handwork I love and am passionate about. It will hang proudly in my living room wall.

I am really enjoying seeing all the inspirational work shared in Blogger's Quilt Festival. It is such fun to see what everyone has made and to share in this way too. Thank you to Amy for an awesome festival and for taking the trouble to host it and organise generous sponsors!

Please do take a look at all the categories as there is some amazing work there.

And if you are visiting from the Festival well hello and welcome!!! I am so pleased to meet you! x
Collette

Thursday, 24 October 2013

My two kiddos are lazy lumps in the morning just now! I have went from having children who were up at the crack of dawn to a 9 and 6 year old who I have to drag out of bed. My theory is that it has something to do with these darker mornings. It is incredibly dull and dark up here until at least 8am and I think their wee body clocks aren't happy!

So thankfully the clocks change this weekend which I think means lighter mornings but evenings will be darker earlier, boooooooo. But the best thing??? An extra hour in bed. Sheer luxury! Can't wait! Can you?

I am eagerly awaiting it's arrival in the next few days. I shall be postie stalking! So does anyone have this pattern? Has anyone made this quilt?? I would be very keen to hear from you and for you to share your experience.

As you know I love hand work so I think I am going to love this!

I have been working on a commission for a baby quilt this week in between teaching my class. The customer asked for a progress shot so here is a sneaky peek for you. The lady chose the colour schemes and fabrics with my assistance of course!

Isn't it lovely?? I love everything about this. There will be sashing and a border in grey. The Art Gallery fabrics particularly are just so soft. If you haven't used them before I would urge you to give them a go. These are so soft and smooth to touch and just beautiful to work with.

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

And you just have to start making things from it straight away?? Last week I purchased the wonderful 500 Quilt Blocks by Lynne Goldsworthy and Kerry Green. It is so useful. I can't stress how much usefulness it possesses! I made two things in the space of two nights. An essential pinnie and a modern spools block.

I have also joined up with a little challenge for fun. I heard of this ages ago and thought, yes that would be fun, but have been ridiculously busy and lazy and not found time. It is called Le Challenge and there is more info about it here. This months challenge is stripes so I have got my thinking cap on for something stripey!

Hoping to share progress on what I make with you all as soon as I have an idea!!
Take care
Collette x

Monday, 14 October 2013

Last night I finished binding this mini quilt. This quilt was a little journey for me. Those of you who have read my blog for a while now will know that I adore English Paper Piecing. So I decided to EPP a dresden plate in some of the solid colours I had in my fabric stash. I really begun with no real plan other than to make a dresden plate.

As you can see this developed into embroidering some purple seed stitches in the centre. I was originally going to add a fabric circle but it didn't look right. ( There I go changing my mind again!).

This moved on to hand quilting each petal in the same colour of thread. It produced this cool rippled, Kantha stitch style effect which I love.

That left me with a blank background which was screaming out for, yes, more hand quilting, Kantha style!

This wall hanging is by no means perfectly stitched. That wasn't the point. The point of it all is because of my love for hand work. I love my sewing machine don't get me wrong and wouldn't be without it.

BUT it may sound bizarre but I love the connection with the past that handwork brings. When I sit and do English paper piecing or hand quilting or embroidery I can't help but think of all the women and men in the past who have done the same. Those who had to out of necessity, who did so for a livelihood, for pleasure and practicality.

Thursday, 10 October 2013

Well yet again I went awol at the beginning of the week. Full of good intentions but overwhelmed with willful children, visiting my mum and a new afternoon class on Wednesday. So forgive my absence but here I am and I have things to share!

I got to play with some Oakshott over the weekend. Isn't it lovely? So soft and unique and the colours are just stunning.

I ate a healthy breakfast on Monday..... a large iced apple turnover yummmmm

And received my fabric order from M is for Make this morning. It is for the stash really but I love them all! Superfast delivery from Kate too!

Hoping to maybe get something finished this week that I can share with you all tomorrow. I am off for more tea to wake and heat me up as we have had our first really chilly morning here so far!

Thursday, 3 October 2013

This week has been a bit crazy to say the least. On Sunday my mum was taken into hospital with trouble breathing (she has COPD). I wasn't able to visit until Monday night as she was in the high dependency unit. I visited on Monday night, as did my Uncle and brother and his wife. She had a full house and was looking pretty good. Then Tuesday she was back home! Just like a whirlwind. Suffice to say she is ok now but her medication has been upped etc but the worry is over for now at least.

My first mini quilt class was on Wednesday and went really well. We had one new lady and the previous group from my EPP class. This is the class sample of the size of quilt we will be making and charm sized squares. The ladies have chosen some gorgeous fabrics which I will reveal soon!

I wanted a fresh, modern look with my sample and echoed the texture of the Sketch fabric with my quilting design.

I took part in the Stamp It Up Swap recently too. My secret partner I had to make for was Erin! So I made my rubber carved stamp and came up with a mug rug. I really enjoyed the stamping and carving and would like to do more when I get some time.

I received the most wonderful frame purse from Kris in the swap. All the way from Germany! Don't you just love it?? I love the fabrics, the frame itself and the embroidery. Cutest thing ever!